Jack and Rose: Present Time Resurrection

Chapter Three

"I figured this might lift your spirits a bit," Tommy said to Rose, smiling and rubbing his hand over shoulder.

Rose smiled back. It was. She laid back on her towel and glanced out at the magnificent ocean before them. A day at the beach seemed to be just what she needed. For some reason or another being near the water always lifted her spirits and made her feel more at peace. Putting on her headphones, Rose closed her eyes and drifted off into a much needed nap.

For awhile Tommy just lied there and watched his beautiful girlfriend sleep. He was soon interrupted by a beach ball hitting him in the face.

"I didn't know you guys would be out here today!" It was Fabrizio. And Dominique.

"Hey," Tommy said, trying not to sound too disappointed. He had wanted to spend a day alone with Rose, but those plans had obviously went to hell. "What's up?"

"Oh, not much," Dominique said, placing her expensive looking lounge chair next to Tommy and Rose. "I talked Fabri here into getting some sun. He's looking paler than usual, don't you think?"

Tommy rolled his eyes. "Figures."

"Is she asleep?" Fabrizio asked, staring at Rose.

"Yeah."

Just then Fabrizio's phone rang. Tommy knew it was Jack as soon as he heard that damn Hit The Road, Jack ringtone Fabrizio had programmed. "Hello? Oh, just at the beach with Dom. She said I needed some sun and . . . what? Where? I don't see you anywhere . . . " Fabrizio was now looking in all the directions of the beach.

"Fuck my life," Tommy muttered, wondering when Jack would be going back to Paris. No matter how soon it was it wouldn't be soon enough.

"Don't say 'fuck' on a Sunday," Dominique ordered, glaring at him.

A few moments later Jack was walking towards them. Fabrizio greeted him with a one-armed hug. "What's up, Jack?" Fabrizio suddenly stepped back, looking completely disgusted. "You've been drinking? It's eleven in the morning!"

"What?!" Dominique said, standing up and walking towards them. "Damn, Jack! How much tequila have you drank? You smell like you've drank a whole fucking bottle!"

"Don't say 'fuck' on a Sunday, Dom," Tommy said, winking at her, despite the situation.

"Tommy," Jack acknowledged, walking right past him and sitting next to Rose.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Tommy asked.

"None of your business, bro," Jack said. "This doesn't concern you." He took off Rose's headphones and gently started saying her name to wake her up.

"What do you mean it doesn't concern me?!" Tommy asked, furious. "Don't touch my girlfriend!" Jack grunted when he heard the word 'girlfriend'.

Rose slowly took off her sunglasses and stared at Jack, trying to take it all in. "Jack? What are you doing here?" She then gave him the same disgusted look Fabrizio had. "Why do you smell like alcohol?"

"Cause he's a fucking drunk, Rose," Tommy said. "A fucking mess. Ain't that right, Jack?"

Jack snarled at him, but decided to not to think of a witty comeback. "Can I just please talk to you for just five minutes?"

"She doesn't want to talk to you, dude," Tommy said, physically picking him up off the ground. Tommy and Jack were now face to face, glaring at each other.

"Why don't you let the lady speak for herself?" Jack asked.

"Believe me. She wants nothing to do with you, bitch."

"Oh, is that right?"

"You guys, come on," Dominique started, coming in between the two guys. "It's too early for this."

"Butt out, Dom," Jack said calmly.

"Yes, Dominique," Tommy said. "Why don't you and Fabri go for a swim? Us three need to have a little chat."

Dominique was just about to say something back, but Fabrizio put his hand over her mouth and dragged her off to the water, giving his friends a thumbs-up sign.

"What is it, Jack?" Rose asked as Jack and Tommy sat back down.

"This better be good," Tommy muttered under his breath.

"Well, I kind of wanted to talk to you alone . . . "

"Anything you want to say to me you can say in front of Tommy."

Jack glanced over at him and sighed. "Alright."

"So talk, drunk," Tommy said.

"I'm not drunk."

"Yeah right."

Jack sighed again and looked at Rose. "Listen to me, alright? I was a total fool for going to Paris. I know that. I thought our love could survive this long distance bull shit, but there was something I never realized . . ."

"What? That there was a guy better suited for Rose than you?" Tommy cut in.

"Fuck you, dude," Jack said and then turned his attention back to Rose. "I never realized that frankly you're a complete wreck without me and . . ."

"Excuse me?"! Rose asked, getting angry. "Do I look like a wreck right now?" She took Tommy's hand in her's. This made Jack wince, but didn't change his motivation. He had come for a reason.

"Look . . ." Jack's eyes were looking directly into Rose's. "I had always thought that I needed to make something of myself to keep you, you know? Since the first day I met you I knew you were used to the lavish lifestyle and so forth. I figured making something of myself would prove to you and everyone else that I deserved you. I craved for the success of being a man who actually deserved a woman like you." Rose's expression began to soften, making Tommy feel both nauseated and freaked out. "Sure, I did it for the art, too, but it wasn't the main goal there, Rosey. My main goal has always been to be with you . . . forever. Don't you get that?"

"That's enough," Tommy said, standing up. "Now you can go."

"Wait," Rose said, standing up as well. "I can't take this anymore."

"What do you mean?" Jack asked hopefully.

"Don't you see that this whole situation is tearing me up inside?" Rose asked, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I'm with Tommy, Jack."

Jack laughed. "Do you love him?"

Rose paused. "You know I do."

"Say it."

"Excuse me?"

"Say it. Out loud."

Rose then looked at Tommy and then back at Jack and could no longer hold in her tears. When she decided she didn't know what else to say she started to run as fast as she could towards the ocean. Before Jack and Tommy could process anything she was already in the water.

"Good job, Jack," Tommy said, patting him on the shoulder. "Does it make you feel good to hurt her like that?"

Jack smiled at him. "You're scared."

"What?"

"You're scared."

"Of you?" Tommy laughed. "Please. I must be twice your size, dude. I think I can handle . . ."

"You're scared that I'm right."

Tommy swallowed hard and glared at him.

Rose was now floating on her back, still trying to stop crying. She had thought that the water would calm her, but it hadn't done much good.

She could see Fabrizio and Dominique about 200 feet away, playing with their beach ball in the water, looking like the happiest couple in the world. She sighed and wondered how that would feel. How nice it must be to be in love and have no drama in your life. To be in love and not doubt how you feel. To be in love and not be more in love with somebody else when you didn't want to be.

Suddenly she felt her head hit something. It was a person. "Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't watching . . ." She couldn't believe who it was.

"Rose!" He hugged her.

"Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?"

Cal smiled. "What? A Hockley can't come enjoy a day at the beach like you peasants?"

"I see you haven't changed."

Cal laughed and then shrugged. "Where's Jack? Still in Paris?"

It then occurred to Rose that he didn't even know they weren't a couple anymore. "Actually he's up there," she said, pointing to land.

"I see . . ." He could notice the troubled look on her face. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Something like that." She couldn't even believe she was discussing it with him after all he had done. "How are things at Harvard?"

"Oh, didn't you hear? I dropped out."

"What?"

"Yeah, college wasn't for me. I'm taking over my father's business."

"Oh."

"It's so good to see you, though."

"Wish I could say the same."

He then put one of Rose's red strands of hair behind her ear. "I've missed you."

Rose then began to feel very uncomfortable. "I think I'm going to get back to my friends . . ."

"Wait!" Cal said, taking her in his arms. "Please. I just want to talk you for a second, alright?"

"Get off me!" Rose ordered. "I have nothing more to say to you!"

"Rose, please, just listen to me . . ."

This was the last thing Rose needed. More drama.

"Who the fuck is that?" Jack asked, looking out in the water. "That buff guy talking to Rose."

Tommy, too, looked out into the water. "Beats me." He shrugged. "I don't get jealous . . . obviously."

"Where's Fabrizio's bag?" Jack asked, searching the ground.

"Why?"

Jack found Fabrizio's blue beach bag and began to empty it onto the sand. He smiled to himself after he found Fabrizio's binoculars under one of his towels. Only his good, nerdy friend Fabri would bring binoculars to the beach. He quickly picked them up and looked inside them, pointing them towards Rose and the guy she was having some kind of intimate conversation with.

"Who is it?" Tommy asked, interested.

But Jack didn't reply. Within seconds he was in the water.

"You're boyfriend's coming," Cal stated, looking bored. "At a very rapid rate, I must say."

Rose looked behind her and saw Jack swimming towards them, with Tommy looking on from the shore. Once Jack got to them he put a protective arm around Rose. She didn't shrug it off. "Hockley. Long time, no see."

Cal smiled. "Your girlfriend and I were just discussing having dinner this evening."

Jack laughed. "I'm sure."

"Come on, Jack," Rose said, taking Jack's hand. "Let's go." This physical contact alone was enough to make Jack's heart skip a beat.

"Wait, wait," Cal said, taking Rose by the arm and bringing her back to his side. "I just need to talk to you."

"Fuck off," Jack said, grabbing Rose back.

"Keep your hands off my girl," Cal said, laughing.

"Keep your hands off my girl," Jack replied.

"Keep your hands off my girl."

It was Tommy.

More coming soon!